Yarrangobilly area

The Yarrangobilly area is a highlight of northern Kosciuszko National Park. Explore jaw-dropping caves on a guided tour and swim in the thermal pool. Stay at historic Caves House and enjoy the walks and wildlife.

The Yarrangobilly area, between Tumut and Cooma, is a great base for the whole family. Come and explore the natural wonders of northern Kosciuszko and Snowy Mountains Highway.

Discover some of the most beautiful limestone caves in Australia, with 6 show caves open to the public. Stop by Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre for tickets and tips first. Then step into the depths of South Glory Cave on a self-guided tour through its lofty chambers. Join a daily guided tour of Jillabenan Cave's delicate stalagmites, stalactites, shawls and cave corals. Or, see Jersey Cave’s rare black flowstones.

More amazing caves and tours are available during school holidays. Try hands-on geology and Aboriginal culture tours, or Castle Cave tours by headlight. Ask the visitor centre about customised group tours, school excursions. They can also help with meetings and weddings.

Above ground, a swim in the outdoor thermal pool is a magical experience. The pool's fed by a natural spring with water staying 27ºC year-round. Keep an eye out for superb blue wrens as you swim. Then follow the Yarrangobilly River walk back to Glory Arch walk and carpark, or South Glory Cave. At dawn and dusk you might see a platypus in the river.

The rugged karst landscape is a backdrop for great walks, wildlife and bird watching. Climb Bluff lookout for views over the valley. Below you'll see beautifully restored Caves House and modern Lyrebird Cottage. Stay a night or 2 and delve deeper into the Snowy Mountains.

Contact

The Yarrangobilly area is open all year. See individual show caves and guided tours for times and prices. Additional tours run during NSW school holidays. Contact Yarrangobilly Caves on (02) 6454 9597 to confirm the tour times for your visit.

Park entry fees apply in the Yarrangobilly area

$4 per vehicle per day applies at Yarrangobilly Caves for motor vehicles without a Kosciuszko National Park day pass or NPWS All Parks annual pass.

Road quality

Yarrangobilly Caves entrance and exit roads are graded gravel. They're suitable for 2WD and 4WD vehicles up to 12.5m in length, however the Roads and Maritime Service (RMS) advise that the roads are unsuitable for caravans.

RMS recommends snow chains are carried by all vehicles driving in the park in winter, including 4WD and AWD, in case of extreme weather. Visit the Life Traffic website for road conditions.

Parking

Parking is available at Yarrangobilly Caves. Park entry fees apply for vehicles without a Kosciuszko National Park day pass or NSW National Parks All Parks annual pass.

Best times to visit

The Yarrangobilly area is packed with activities and sights whatever time of year you visit. Here are some of the highlights.

Autumn

Enjoy the beautiful autumn colours of European trees planted here in the early 1900s. Head through the historic line of elm trees on your way to Glory Arch and onto Castle walk. Work up an appetite with a swim in the popular thermal pool. Take in the mountain air on a walk to Glory Farm before looping back via River walk and South Glory Cave (ticket required). Then cook up a hearty meal in the self-catering kitchen at Caves House and relax by the fire.

Spring

From September through to December, a burst of growth sees golden wattle, purple hovea, red pea bushes and white native daisies bloom amongst the mountain ash and gums. The path to Jersey Cave is lined with red grevillea, pink fringe-lillies and yellow billy buttons. The cool, clear waters of the Yarrangobilly tempt you to throw a line in, as rivers reopen for fishing season. This is also a great time to explore the mountain bike and horse riding trails of the nearby High Plains.

Summer

Escape the heat underground on a cave tour, including exclusive school holiday-only tours to explore caves not usually open to visitors. Make the most of the sunshine with a lazy day picnicking and swimming at the thermal pool. Keen bushwalkers will appreciate the shady trails and summer wildflowers, while birdwatchers will be busy spotting fairy wrens, flame robins, king parrots and maybe a lyrebird. Why not camp up the road at Yarrangobilly Village campground, or book a room or wing of Caves House. As the sun sets the area comes to life with kangaroos, possums, bats, red-necked and swamp wallabies. You might even meet the resident wombat, Harley, who lives under Caves House.

Winter

Imagine swimming in a 27oC thermal pool surrounded by a blanket of snow, with no one but the birds to keep you company. If you’re lucky, you’ll see icicle stalactites hanging from Glory Arch, or reflections and ripples in the seasonal pool of water at South Glory Cave’s entrance. Located only 22km north of Selwyn Snow Resort, Yarrangobilly is a handy accommodation base for the ski fields, and a great all-weather alternative if it’s raining.

Safety messages

All Kosciuszko National Park visitors planning a long hike, off-track or overnight adventure, or visiting a remote part of the park, are recommended to fill in the trip intention form and carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). Find out more about hiring a PLB and completing a trip intention form on the dedicated iPads available at Snowy Region Visitor Centre, Tumut Visitor Centre and the Perisher NSW National Parks office.

Adventure sports

Come properly prepared for your cave adventure: sturdy, enclosed shoes are a must. The caves are very cool, so remember to bring a jacket even in summer.

Alpine safety

Alpine areas present special safety issues. Conditions can be extreme and may change rapidly, particularly in winter. It’s important to be prepared and find out how to stay safe in alpine areas.

Mobile safety

Dial Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Download the Emergency + app before you visit, it helps emergency services locate you using your smartphone's GPS. Please note there is limited mobile phone reception in this park and you’ll need mobile reception to call Triple Zero (000).

Prohibited

Pets

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas. The alpine resorts of Selwyn, Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass, Ski Rider and Kosciuszko Tourist Park are exempt, though some commercial and outdoor places within these resorts may have no smoking areas.

Visitor centre

Nearby towns

Talbingo (34
km)

Talbingo is surrounded by some of the most inspiring scenery in the Snowy Mountains. At Talbingo Dam you'll enjoy panoramic views of the region as well as superb fishing for brown and rainbow trout. You can even go water-skiing on the dam.

Cooma (117
km)

The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre is a state-of-the-art visitor facility showcasing the story of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme from the early construction days to the role the scheme plays today in the development of Australia.

Learn more

Yarrangobilly area is a special place. Here are just some of the reasons why:

Unique landscapes

Yarrangobilly’s karst landscapes were created from a belt of limestone laid down about 440 million years ago. Almost all cave formations can be seen here, from stalactites and stalagmites, hollow straws and delicate helictites, to shawls, cave coral, and massive flowstones. Karst environments are nature’s time capsules, preserving evidence of climate change, floods, droughts, fires, animal and human activity. Over the years, Yarrangobilly's caves have hosted researchers from universities, nuclear science organisations and the Snowy Hydro. You can now visit Harrie Wood Cave, which was closed from 2006-2016, to learn how stalagmites have growth rings, and find out about about climate change monitoring.

Discover geology at Yarrangobilly CavesThis tour is closed until further notice. Every rock tells a story! Come and experience Yarrangobilly Caves on a special guided tour through geological time. This is a fun tour for all the family.

Jersey CaveThis cave is closed until further notice to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff. Step back in time on a guided tour of Jersey Cave. You'll be awed by some of the most colourful and diverse decorations at Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park.

Jillabenan Cave This cave is closed until further notice to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff. Take a fascinating guided tour of Jillabenan Cave. It's the smallest and most accessible of the Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park, but it’s packed with incredibly delicate formations.

River Odyssey adventure caving tourThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Are you up for a challenge? River Odyssey is a great introduction to the adventure of wild caving. You don't have to be experienced to take part. See Yarrangobilly Caves in a whole new way.

South Glory CaveThis cave is closed until further notice to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff. Take a leisurely self-guided tour through the lofty chambers of South Glory Cave. Absorb the wonders of the largest cave in the Yarrangobilly area of Kosciuszko National Park.

WilderQuest Bake and bushcraft at YarrangobillyThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Would you like to learn basic bush skills and cook your own food on a campfire? Join the WilderQuest crew in exploring the natural world of Yarrangobilly.

WilderQuest Little caves for little kidsThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Test your climbing, crawling and balancing skills on this Kosciuszko WilderQuest adventure! We'll explore some of Yarrangobilly's smaller wild caves, and the creek and forest between them.

Yarrangobilly Castle Cave tourThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Experience a genuine caver's journey into the dark underground. Book now to trek along Yarrangobilly River and explore secluded Castle Cave, with a trusty head torch and guide by your side.

Yarrangobilly Harrie Wood Cave tourThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Yarrangobilly's Harrie Wood Cave has reopened after being closed for the last 11 years for cave research. Join this specialised guided tour in Kosciuszko National Park to find out more.

Yarrangobilly North Glory Cave tourThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Explore the immense cave formations of North Glory Cave in Yarrangobilly Caves, Kosciuszko National Park.

Explore above and below ground

No visit to Yarrangobilly is complete without a visit to its marvellous caves, so stop by the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre to get your tickets and tour times. The largest, South Glory Cave, allows you to explore at your own pace on a self-guided tour. Jersey and Jillabenan Caves offer guided tours that run 3 or 4 times daily - Jillabenan even boasts wheelchair-access. The visitor centre can also help with tours of other caves, meetings, weddings, custom tours for groups or students from 10 to 100 people. With caves, tours, walks, and the natural mineral waters of the thermal pool to tempt you, you’ll need to stay a few days. Book your own lovingly restored wing or a great-value room at Caves House. Enjoy the creature comforts of Lyrebird Cottage, or set up camp at Yarrangobilly Village campground, just off the Snowy Mountains Highway.

Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool walkTake the short Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool walk and enjoy a swim in the spring-fed natural pool. It's easily combined with a picnic, bushwalk or cave tour in the Yarrangobilly area of Kosciuszko National Park.

Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor CentreYarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre is closed until further notice to protect the health and safety of our visitors and staff. You can still contact us by phone or email for information. Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre is your one stop destination for information on cave tours and tickets, and top tips on where to stay and what to do in the Yarrangobilly and northern areas of Kosciuszko National Park.

A wonderland for wildlife

Karst environments are complex ecosystems containing highly specialised plants, animals and micro-organisms. The dense shrubs around Yarrangobilly River provide protection for the endangered smoky mouse, as well as being great for bird watching. At night you might be lucky to see a possum or sugar glider, forest bats, tawny frogmouth owl or even an endangered sooty owl. Don’t be put off if you see algae or even springtime tadpoles in the thermal pool. Algae and weed provide a breeding site for eastern banjo frogs, aka pobblebonks, because of their banjo-like ‘plonk’ or ‘bonk’, meaning the water is clean and healthy. School students can learn more about Kosciuszko National Park’s ecosystems and important biodiversity on a school excursion.

WilderQuest Bake and bushcraft at YarrangobillyThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Would you like to learn basic bush skills and cook your own food on a campfire? Join the WilderQuest crew in exploring the natural world of Yarrangobilly.

WilderQuest Bug hunt: Yarrangobilly CavesThis tour is cancelled until further notice. Come on a fun adventure exploring Kosciuszko's natural world through a magnifying glass. Find out where the bugs are hiding around Yarrangobilly Caves and discover amazing things about them.

Discover Aboriginal culture

Yarrangobilly is the perfect place to experience the rich Aboriginal culture of the Wolgalu People. Join a NPWS Aboriginal ranger to see the tools and techniques of the Traditional Owners of this unique landscape. Take part in hands-on activities like string making, or learn how to start a fire without matches. Wolgalu culture tours run on select dates during school holidays, and start from the picnic area near Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre (bookings essential).

Plants and animals you may see

Animals

A large, squat marsupial, the Australian common wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.

The eastern water dragon is a subaquatic lizard found in healthy waterways along eastern NSW, from Nowra to halfway up the Cape York Pensinsula. It’s believed to be one of the oldest of Australian reptiles, remaining virtually unchanged for over 20 million years.

One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

The striking blue and black plumage of the adult male superb fairy wren makes for colourful bird watching across south-eastern Australia. The sociable superb fairy wrens, or blue wrens, are Australian birds living in groups consisting of a dominant male, mouse-brown female ‘jenny wrens’ and several tawny-brown juveniles.

With a complex mimicking call and an elaborate courtship dance to match, the superb lyrebird is one of the most spectacular Australian animals. A bird watching must-see, the superb lyrebird can be found in rainforests and wet woodlands across eastern NSW and Victoria.

The swamp wallaby, also known as the black wallaby or black pademelon, lives in the dense understorey of rainforests, woodlands and dry sclerophyll forest along eastern Australia. This unique Australian macropod has a dark black-grey coat with a distinctive light-coloured cheek stripe.

Plants

Billy buttons are attractive Australian native plants that are widespread throughout eastern NSW in dry forest, grassland and alpine regions such as Kosciuszko National Park. The golden-yellow globe-shaped flowers are also known as woollyheads. Related to the daisy, billy buttons are an erect herb growing to a height of 50cm.

Environments in this area

What we're doing

Yarrangobilly area has management strategies in place to protect and conserve the values of this park. Visit the OEH website for detailed park and fire management documents. Here is just some of the work we’re doing to conserve these values:

Understanding landscapes and geology

Geo conservation efforts and research play an important role in protecting the delicate ecosystems of Kosciuszko National Park, such as the Yarrangobilly Karst. Rehabilitation and maintenance works to limit the impact of erosion and degradation, and monitoring the effects of climate change and visitation, are ongoing.

The NPWS cave access policy was created following concern from staff, recreational cavers and scientists regarding access to NPWS caves. The policy sets important guidelines for protecting and conserving NSW caves, and focuses on regulating access while maintaining opportunities for public enjoyment and scientific research.

Preserving biodiversity

Kosciuszko National Park plays an important role in preserving NSW's biodiversity by protecting its vulnerable, threatened and endangered species, such as the smoky mouse. Conservation activities are carried out in this park, and include monitoring species’ habitats, distribution and population.

Uniting technology with the vast collection of information on biodiversity in NSW, BioNet is a valuable database open to any user. From individual plant sightings to detailed scientific surveys, it offers a wealth of knowledge about ecology and threatened species in NSW.

Managing weeds, pest animals and other threats

Pests and weeds have a significant impact on the ecosystems and habitats within Kosciuszko National Park. Pest species control is an important part of the work NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) does to protect the integrity of the Yarrangobilly area.

Historic heritage in our parks and reserves

The historic heritage of Kosciuszko National Park is preserved through a variety of NPWS programs that embrace its past. Heritage revitalisation and adaptive reuse projects, such as Yarrangobilly Caves House, are ongoing in this park.

After sitting abandoned for more than 50 years, the 1917 two-storey wing of Yarrangobilly Caves House has been refurbished and opened to visitors as a tourist accommodation business. This marks an important milestone in the history of Kosciuszko National Park, and is a sign of the revitalisation of the Yarrangobilly Caves precinct.

Developing visitor facilities and experiences

NPWS is committed to developing facilities for the enjoyment and safety of visitors to Kosciuszko National Park. Visitor feedback and environmental sustainability are key considerations in park maintenance, and upgrades are ongoing. Campgrounds, picnic areas, trails and lookouts are continually maintained and upgraded, and NPWS regularly reviews the park’s recreational opportunities, identifying areas for improvement or addition.

Kosciuszko National Park has achieved Australia’s first Ecotourism Destination Certification, through Ecotourism Australia, recognising best practice sustainable tourism and visitation in protected areas.

Managing fire

NSW is one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world due to our climate, weather systems, vegetation and the rugged terrain. NPWS is committed to minimising the likelihood and impact of bushfires via a strategic program of fire research, fire planning, hazard reduction, highly trained rapid response firefighting crews and community alerts.

Managing fire-prone NSW national parks requires a multi-layered approach, including fire planning, community education, and fuel management. When it comes to reducing risks from fire-prone fuels, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) conducts planned hazard reduction activities like mowing and controlled burning to assist in the protection of life, property and the community.